Odell O. Kittelson, 94, of Joliet, IL, died Tuesday afternoon, May 23, 2017, at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home. Born January 20, 1923, near Decorah, Iowa, to Henry and Caroline (Pfister) Kittelson, Odell was baptized at Big Canoe Lutheran Churcho, confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church, and received Christ as his personal Savior at East Chain Lutheran ChurcDunnh near Fairmont, Minnesota. Beginning in February of 1945 he served in the U.S. Army for 21 months; then prepared for missionary service. Before and during his missionary career, Odell studied at Prairie Bible Institute in Canada, Seattle Pacific College, Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, Biblical Seminary in New York, Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois, and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Odell was commissioned in 1950 as a missionary to Bolivia. There he met and married missionary Margaret Hatteberg from Newark, Illinois, both serving under the World Mission Prayer League. Areas of ministry during their more than 25 years of service in Bolivia included serving at a Bible school at Coaba, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in La Paz, establishing a Christian radio station in Caranavi, and finally founding Cup of Cold Water Ministries and providing simple transportation for small farmers in remote areas. Upon returning to the United States he served as pastor in several area congregations for about another 25 years. Odell was a member of Helmar Lutheran Church. His heart's desire was always to proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel… the Good News of God's love. Survivors include son, Philip (Sara) Kittelson of La Paz, Bolivia; daughter, Elizabeth (Frederick) Alexander of Shorewood, IL; son David (Grace) Kittelson of Raleigh, NC; daughter, Rebekah (Todd) Dean of Dana Point, CA; 13 grandchildren, Philip Stephen Kittelson, Jr., Joseph Andrew Kittelson, Odell David Kittelson, Daniel Sebastian Alexander, Andrew Odell Alexander, Joseph Frederick Alexander, Ann Marie Alexander, David Elijah Kittelson, Andrew Philip Kittelson, Joshua Austin Dean, Joshua James Dean, Sarah Chamberlain Dean, Amy Joy Dean; a great granddaughter, Grace Mariana Kittelson and his sister, Melba Johnson of Cokato, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Caroline, his brothers Gavin, Floyd, and Clifton, his sister Evelyn Danielson, his wife Margaret, and son-in-law, Tim Pines. Visitation will be held from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 30th at Helmar Lutheran Church. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Helmar Lutheran Church with Dr. Steve Lombardo officiating. Interment will be at the Helmar Cemetery. Following the committal service, lunch will be served at the church. Pallbearers will be grandchildren, Daniel Alexander, Andrew Alexander, Joseph Alexander, Philip Kittelson, Joseph Kittelson, Odell Kittelson, and Joshua Dean. Honorary pallbearers will be grandchildren, Joshua Dean, Elijah Kittelson, and Andrew Kittelson. Memorials may be directed to the Cup of Cold Water Ministries, PO Box 318, Newark, IL, 60541. Arrangements are entrusted to the Gabel-Dunn Funeral Home Ltd. in Newark, phone 815-695-5131. For information or to leave a message of condolence visit www.dunnfamilyfuneralhome.com